Billy Bell in Haltwhistle has been awarded with a Small Business Award by local MP Guy Opperman.
Billy Bell were nominated by local residents last year, fighting off tough competition from many other local small businesses.
The nomination process coincided with Small Business Saturday, a campaign which reminds people of the importance of small and independent retailers and encourages communities to support small local businesses.
However, due to the severity of the pandemic at the time – particularly in Haltwhistle – the award was not presented in person.
A family business, Billy Bell’s is now run by father and son Miles and Cameron Bell, alongside a dedicated team of eight staff. The business has provided meals for the vulnerable throughout the pandemic.
After presenting the Award, Guy Opperman MP said:
‘It was great - after a long wait - to present Billy Bell with the Small Business Award.
Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy here in Tynedale and Ponteland, and it is right to recognise the hard work they do for our local communities.
Well done to the whole team – and make sure you keep shopping local, because if we don’t use them, we will lose them.”
Cameron Bell said:
‘We were delighted to see guy and appreciate winning the award as we continued to do our best for community over a hard 18 months’.